Hand on top of other waving my thumbs...

There is something intriguing about awkwardness. In some ways, I consider it synonymous to unique. Many times, awkwardness comes from defying social convention (i.e. facing anything but forward in an elevator). But what I find most intriguing is how people respond to awkward situations or persons.

Sometimes life is so intrinsically guided by social convention that we are on some sort of auto-pilot. Our experiences and what is universally considered to be “normal” push us to instinctively act in a certain way. Some trivial examples can be when you meet people and you cordially greet one another and engage light conversation. We know how to greet people because we do it all the time in almost the same way time and time again. And we do this as if without thought. Like robots.

What I like about awkwardness is that it puts us on our toes. It makes us think, in general. Why was it awkward? What should I have said? Why didn’t I say nor do this? As if, at least to me, to make me actually care about some of the most mundane activities of life.

I have this newfound appreciation for awkwardness. While some people might feel embarrassed, I just look back and smile. There’s nothing to be ashamed of if I’m just being myself.